Page 193 of Out of Left Field

“Talk is an ambiguous word. On the largest scale we talk several times a day…if by talk you mean trade a message or two or ask a question or share a picture. But if you mean have longer conversations about our days or our lives…then only once or twice a month.”

“Any word on the documentary?” I guided her towards the appetizers and piled several on a small plate.

“Supposed to hear by the end of the week.”

“So…tomorrow?”

“Yep. But I’ll get it.” She popped a shrimp concoction into her mouth.

“How can you be so sure?” I loved her confidence though.

“Because, like I told you, the vibes were right. I don’t blame them for interviewing several candidates and fully vetting each of us. They don’t want to get burned again. However, in the end, I am the only logical choice.”

“Seth showed me the film you made for their college team. Will it be like that?” It was impressive. Tugged on my heartstrings. And that was nearly a decade ago. Willa had worked on dozens of projects, big and small since then. I could only imagine her skills had multiplied.

“No. At least I don’t think so. I’ve decided I don’t want to approach the team with my vision. I want to be with the team. Feel your energy. Get to know you all. I’ll craft it from there.”

“An inside out approach.”

“Exactly. She tossed her plate in the trash. “Will you show me where the loo is?”

Oddly, my first reaction was to scan the crowd for Mercedes or another member of our team. Even though we were supposedly in a perfectly safe room. I hated that scanning the room was now my default reaction to being asked to go anywhere.

“I’m not leaving your side,” Willa said. “Well, except while I’m peeing. I’m sorry but I’m kind of a shy pee-er.” She tugged me towards the door.

“Don’t worry. I prefer to wait outside the stall.” We breezed out of the room and across the hallway to the bathrooms. While Willa did her business I checked my hair. I had it swept off to the side because whenever I wore my hair this way Seth would constantly drop kisses on my throat and shoulder—something I found quite pleasurable.

“Shit!”

I spun around. “What’s wrong?”

“I got my period. You don’t happen to have a tampon, do you?”

“I have one in my purse, but Mercedes has it. I’ll be right back.”

“No! I’m not supposed to leave your side! Give me a few seconds and we’ll go together.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m only going to be gone for a minute. She’s probably waiting outside.” My mom, practical to a fault, taught me to never leave home without at least one tampon in my purse. Not just for me but for anyone else who might need a helping hand.

That little trick had saved my friends on at least a dozen occasions at this point.

Mercedes was not pleased when I found her. She accompanied me back to the restroom and never left my side again.

Neither did Seth. He was so close we might as well have merged bodies. Apparently I was going to have to learn how to play baseball and Seth would get a crash course in soccer.

It must have shown on my face because he hung his head and sighed. “I know it’s suffocating. I know it’s over the top. But babe, no one has seen or heard from the fucker and then he shows up at your game? You can’t tell me that’s not a threat.”

And that had scared him into overprotective boyfriend mode. So I kissed the underside of his jaw, breathing in his cologne. “I don’t blame you. The last time I saw him he wasn’t in his right mind.”

“He hurt you, Annalise.”

“I remember.” The bruises faded but the memories hadn’t. Not yet.

Seth pulled me against him, wrapping his strong arms around me. “I just need to know you’re safe.”

“I’m not complaining.”

“But you want to. I can see it. You’re stifled. The exact opposite of how you felt four days ago. I want that for you, Annalise. I want you to feel that good, that free, all the time. Forever.”